Faculty Remote Work

Faculty Work from outside the U.S.
The guidance document, “Guidance for Faculty Work from Outside the U.S.,” provides detailed information about when and for what periods of time full-time faculty may work from outside the U.S. Faculty members may request to exceed the time limits described in this document by completing an Exception Request Form.

Faculty Remote Work within the U.S.
Full-time faculty
Flexibility is inherent in most faculty members’ work schedules and the University expects full-time faculty members to participate fully in their university workspace or on-campus intellectual and educational community. Faculty members’ on-campus presence promotes student engagement, enriches connections among scholars, and strengthens the university’s intellectual community. Remote work arrangements for full-time faculty should be rare and are only permitted with the approval of the dean or chancellor.

No tenure-line faculty member may be hired into a position that is permanently remote; tenure-line job requisitions with a permanent remote work designation are prohibited in Workday. Remote arrangements for currently-employed tenure-line faculty members should be temporary and should meet a critical university need.

Full-time, non-tenure-line faculty may be hired to work 100% remotely in the U.S. Units are advised to carefully consider both length of contract and where the work will occur, as well as the faculty member’s ability to engage with the university community. For new hires into permanently remote positions, contracts of one year are recommended. Hiring units must consult with their HRSP before hiring a non-tenure line faculty member to work in a state other than Pennsylvania.

Part-time faculty
Part-time faculty may be hired to work 100% remotely. Hiring units must consult with their HRSP before hiring a part-time non-tenure line faculty member to work in a state other than Pennsylvania.

Documenting remote arrangements
All remote work arrangements, for currently employed full-time and part-time faculty, should be entered into Workday and, unless hired into a non-tenure-line faculty position designated as remote at hire, should not be for a time period of greater than one year. As part of this process, full-time faculty must complete a questionnaire indicating why they are proposing to work remotely and how they plan to accomplish their job responsibilities remotely. Guidance for Faculty Entering a Flexible Work Arrangement in Workday web page describes the conditions of remote work for full-time faculty with a documented remote work arrangement in Workday.

Faculty members seeking a temporary change in their university workspace or on-campus work expectations related to a medical condition or disability should contact the Affirmative Action Office to request a reasonable accommodation.